BABSON PARK, Mass.—The Babson College men's ice hockey team will be hosting a Military Appreciation Day this Saturday against New England College at 4:00 p.m., honoring 1st Lieutenant Derek Hines, brother of 2013 Babson graduate and four-year player Trevor. All active-duty military members and veterans will be admitted at no cost.

Proceeds from the event will go to the 1st Lt. Derek Hines Soldiers Assistance Fund, which assists Massachusetts soldiers injured in combat and their families. The Fund was founded in memory of Derek, who was a 1st Lt. in the United States Army and Army men's ice hockey alumnus. Derek joined the 173rd Airborne Division and was deployed in Afghanistan, where he was killed in action in 2005 while conducting security operations.

The Hines family will be honored between the first and second periods. Rob Riley, who was the head coach of Babson's 1984 NCAA Championship team and the Army head coach for 18 years, will also be in attendance. Riley coached Derek at West Point during his four-year career.

Each of this year's players will don customized AK Pro Series camouflage desert pattern jerseys. Those jerseys will eventually be sold with proceeds directed to the Fund. Babson's four captains will present Trevor and his family with a personalized jersey between periods.

Members from the Babson Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will also be on hand to sell camouflage ribbons for a suggested donation, as well as raffle off a Babson men's ice hockey jersey. The group will also be providing cards where people can write their own thank you letters to be sent to soldiers.

The connection between Babson and Army men's ice hockey goes beyond the Hines family and Rob Riley. While at Army, Riley coached Major Thomas Kennedy. Major Kennedy was killed in action in 2012 while serving his third term in the Middle East. He is the younger brother of John Kennedy, who played for Babson from 1989-93 and was a teammate of current head coach Jamie Rice '90.

Babson men's ice hockey, Army men's ice hockey and the Armed Forces of both the United States and Canada share a deep, multi-layered connection. The Babson men's ice hockey program is proud to salute the sacrifices made by individuals like Derek Hines and Thomas Kennedy.